What can be described as "shooting stars" that streak across the sky in a brief flash of light?

A. Meteoroids
B. Meteorites
C. Comets
D. Meteors

D. Meteors

The correct answer is D. Meteors.

To understand why meteors can be described as "shooting stars," we need to clarify the terms "meteoroids," "meteorites," and "comets" as well.

- A meteoroid is a small chunk of rock or metal that is in space and originates from a comet or asteroid. When a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere, it becomes a meteor.

- A meteor, often referred to as a shooting star, is a meteoroid that enters the Earth's atmosphere and starts to burn up due to the intense heat generated by friction with the air. This burning produces a brief flash of light, called a meteor or shooting star, as it streaks across the sky.

- A comet is a celestial object made up of ice, dust, and rocky particles. When a comet comes close to the sun, the heat causes some of its material to vaporize and form a glowing head called a coma, along with a tail. Comets can also produce meteor showers when the Earth passes through the trail of debris left behind by a comet.

Therefore, from the given options, meteors are the objects that can be described as shooting stars, as they streak across the sky in a brief flash of light.